The big picture
Haggai and Zechariah, prophets who speak for God, urge the returned Jews to build again. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, their leaders, restart God's temple in Jerusalem, the city to which they have returned. Tatnai, the regional governor, asks who allowed the work. He sends the answer to Darius, the Persian king. The builders explain both their people's earlier guilt and the decree of Cyrus, the king who authorised their return. Work continues while the royal records are sought.
In this chapter
- Prophets Support the Renewed Work Ezra 5:1-5
The two prophets speak to the Jews in God's name.
- The Governor Reports What He Has Seen Ezra 5:6-10
Tatnai's letter tells Darius that the temple is rising with large stones and timber.
- The Builders Admit Why the Temple Fell Ezra 5:11-12
The elders call themselves servants of the God of heaven and earth.
- Cyrus’s Earlier Order Can Be Checked Ezra 5:13-17
The elders say Cyrus ordered the temple rebuilt in his first year.
Central truth
God's prophets encourage renewed building, and the leaders answer official questions by acknowledging past sin and citing the royal permission to rebuild.
Scripture beside the summary
Ezra · King James Version · 17Ezra 5:1-5
Prophets Support the Renewed Work
The two prophets speak to the Jews in God's name. Zerubbabel and Jeshua then begin work on the temple again, with the prophets helping them. Tatnai and his companions arrive to ask who ordered the work and who leads it. The questioning does not force an immediate stop. The account says God's eye is on the elders. They can keep building until the matter reaches Darius and an answer comes. Divine care is shown through work continuing during a real official challenge.
In everyday life
A conservation mason resumes work on a damaged arch after expert encouragement. A regional inspector asks for the permit and the names of those responsible but lets the team continue during the review. The questions are serious without closing the site. Ezra credits God's care with preserving the elders' freedom to build his house.
Notice
Ezra 5:5 The builders are not stopped while the case goes to the king. God's watch over the elders is linked to that space for continued work.
Ezra 5:1-5
King James Version1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
Ezra 5:6-10
The Governor Reports What He Has Seen
Tatnai's letter tells Darius that the temple is rising with large stones and timber. The work is moving quickly and going well. He reports asking the elders who authorised the project. He also requests their names so the king can know who is responsible. The letter records an inspection of actual work rather than only repeating a distant rumour. Its next part will include the builders' own answer. The king is asked to judge a case whose details and leaders are being put on record.
In everyday life
A road surveyor photographs a retaining wall and records the foreman's name before sending a report to the funder. The stonework is progressing, but permission still needs to be checked. Her report includes what she has seen on site. Tatnai's inquiry concerns a temple whose builders claim both God's service and royal authorisation.
Notice
Ezra 5:10 The governor asks for the leaders' names as well as their permission. The inquiry seeks people who can answer for the work, not only a general claim.
Ezra 5:6-10
King James Version6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
Ezra 5:11-12
The Builders Admit Why the Temple Fell
The elders call themselves servants of the God of heaven and earth. They say they are rebuilding a house first raised by a great king of Israel. They do not blame its ruin only on foreign force. Their fathers angered God, who gave them over to Nebuchadnezzar. He destroyed the temple and carried the people to Babylon. Their answer joins the dignity of their service with an admission of guilt. Rebuilding does not require pretending the past was faithful or the defeat without cause.
In everyday life
A workshop heir explains why the family mill closed before asking to reopen it. She names her predecessors' broken promises as well as the buyer who stripped its machinery. Care for the family name does not require hiding its failures. These elders understand the temple's destruction as God's judgement on their ancestors' sin.
Notice
Ezra 5:12 The elders place their fathers' provocation before the foreign king's attack. Their account recognises guilt within the community rather than blaming only outsiders for the ruin.
Ezra 5:11-12
King James Version11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
Ezra 5:13-17
Cyrus’s Earlier Order Can Be Checked
The elders say Cyrus ordered the temple rebuilt in his first year. He returned the gold and silver vessels and entrusted them to Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor. Sheshbazzar brought them back and laid the foundation. The work has not yet been finished. Tatnai asks Darius to search the royal records to confirm whether Cyrus gave this command. The answer is not left as a private claim. A document in the king's own archive can decide the question now facing the builders.
In everyday life
A canal engineer produces the date of an old water-rights grant when a new owner challenges repairs. She asks for the signed copy to be checked rather than relying on memory. The document belongs to the authority now questioning the work. Cyrus's decree concerns rebuilding God's temple and returning vessels taken in conquest.
Notice
Ezra 5:17 The requested search concerns Cyrus's actual decree. The governor asks for evidence from royal records instead of deciding solely from the builders' spoken account.
Ezra 5:13-17
King James Version13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ezra 5:1 begins with “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of…”
Where the chapter turns
Ezra 5:9 forms a natural hinge: “Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?”
The final note
Ezra 5:17 leaves the reader with “Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words house, king, Babylon, build, Jerusalem, builded help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- hath
- has
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
